Paper can machine



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PAPER 01m MACHINE Filed Jan, 29, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 .NH N9 U 3 I I II I A ll lllivl N MN 3. N

m. II. f 0 0 mm N 1 [IQ N QW w NW NW N NM fi www Oct. 10, 1933. 5 Q,FRQSTAD 51- AL 1,929,632

7 PAPER CAN MACHINE Filed Jan. 29. 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 06L 1933- G. o.FROSTAD ET AL PAPER CAN MACHINE Filed Jan. 29, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 r!,WM,M I

1933- s. o. FROSTAD El AL PAPER CAN MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan.29, 1950 -IN ljENTORSj M j W 1 fab/M, 4 i" M, M [M Patented Oct. 10,1933 UNITED ST E O Y PAPERCAN MACHINE:

George 0. Frostad and James E. Annen, MEL- of Wisconsin Application January 29,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to can machines in which discs of paper or thelike are applied to can bodies. The invention is herein particularlydescribed as a paper can making machine, although its use is not limitedtothe making of paper cans; In our application Serial No. 267,878, filedApril 6, 1928, there isdescribed means for punching discs from a paperstrip, flanging the same and forcing them into the open end of apreformed can body. thereafter rolled together toform a joint..

In certain cases, it is desired to have printed matter. appear on thedisc forming the can end. It is difficult to insure continuous registryof the punching die with printed matterappearing at intervals on a paperstrip, andit is therefore desirable to preform and print the 'discs'andfeed them individually to the machine. In other cases,

. it may be desired for various reasons to feed unprinted discs to themachine.

We provide means for printing orembossing legends on the can ends as thelatter are'fed to the machine. These means include printing rolls andink supply rolls adapted to ink the printing f rolls intermittently.

' here. This tendency comprises a pair of The discs employed arerelatively thick and stiff as compared with ordinary paper. They areusually of relatively heavy stock, impregnated with paraffin. Theiredges are generally slight:

11y burred, due to the die cutting operation. The discs thereforetend toresist sliding of one over the other, thus making ordinary feed devicesimpracticable. The discs are frequently warped or wrinkled.

We provide a can machine, wherein discs are supported in a stack and fedinto cooperative relation to the open end of a can. The feeding is fromthe bottom of the stack so that the supply of discs may be renewedwithout stopping the machine. We provide suction means for drawing'thebottom disc against the supporting plate, thereby eliminating theirregularities in feeding which ordinarily arise from the wrinkledcondition of the material.

We preferably employ a reciprocating pusher for sliding the bottom discout from under the stack. Means is also provided for riflling the stackso as to remove any tendency of the discs to adarises on the disc edgesby the punching operation. We

employ a separating finger spaced far'enough from the support to permitpassage of the bottom disc in the stack, of the stackin check.Supplemental means is provided beyond the'fi'ngers for feeding the discsforward. This supplemental means preferably constantly driven feedrolls. 1 Regardless of whether a disc feeding device is employed inconnection with a can making ma? The can body and the flange are fromthe burrs formed but holding the remainder 1920. Serial 424,261- (01.93- -5l) employ feed means which will carry the disc to its ultimatedestination. We therefore provide for feeding one disc forward byengaging it with a succeeding disc. 1 In this manner, the disc fed maybe spacedfrom the disc consuming device, thereby making it easy toadjust. I At the same time, there is no necessity for complicatedmechanism for advancing the discs to their final position.

Since one disc is fed forward by another, we provide for varying thepositionof the disc feeding device relative to thediscjconsuming-device; It is desirable to maintain asubstantially con-'tinuous supportingsurface along the entire path of the discs, and wetherefore employ a pair of supporting members having interengagingfingers. These fingers may be moved intoor. out of engagement with oneanother invarying amounts, so as to provide a substantially smooth andcontinuous supporting table of varying length. A top guide is providedfor holding the fed discs against the table so as to insure that theedges of the leading disc and-the one which is pushing it forwardwillnot overlap. This top guide preferably extends from the feed rolls tothe disc consuming device and is therefore made adjustable as to length.It is further provided with yielding means whereby it exerts a slightpressure-on the top of the disc.

The-disc feeding device is arranged to be driven from the disc consumingdevice, so that the two units operate in timed relation.

While we have described the feeding mechanism in connection with paperdiscs, itis to be understood that it is applicable for use in con-'nection with other material and with machines other than can formingmachines, and that such uses are contemplated without departing from'the scope of the invention.

' In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the present preferredembodiment of our invention, a

Figure 1 is a sectional'view of a feeding ma chine embodying ourinvention;

Figure 2 is a plan View thereof "taken the section line IIII of Figure1; "Figure 3 is-a side elevation of the machine shown in Figurel; Y

Figure 4 is a view partially in elevation and partially in section,taken along the section line IV-'-IV'of Figure 3; I

Figure 5-is a plan view taken along the section line V--V of Figure 3;

Figure-6 is an enlargedsectional view of a portion of the feedermechanism shown in Figure 1;"

Figure '7 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing a modificationprovidedvwith an inking fountain and inking rolls; I

Figure 8 is a partial elevation of the structure erally impossible toalong frame 11.

J the discs 10.

of Figure? looking upon the right-hand end of the latter; and l Figure 9is a section taken at the plane of line IX-IX of Figure 8.

We provide a can machine in which a feeding mechanism A for feedingpaper discs to a cam driven plunger B for shaping and inserting theminto cylindrical can bodies, and a vacuum system C for controlling themovement of the discs. Feeder rollers D may supply a strip of paper tothe plunger B from which discs are punched. The movement of the feedingmechanism A, plunger B and the rollers D are coordinated by aninterconnecting mechanism E.

The feeding mechanism A for feeding paper discs to'. the plunger Bcomprises .a base 2, supported in part by a standard 4, and in part by aplate 5, secured by bolts6 to the plunger mechanism B. Standards 7 areadjustably mounted in slots 8 in the base 2' and cooperate with astandard 9 for supporting a stack of paper discs 10. The standard 9 isadjustably supported on a frame 11, carried by the base 2 by a set screw12. The lower end of the standard 9 is spaced from the 7 base2 asufiicient distance to permit but a single disc 10 to pass therebeneathat any time into engagement with feed rollers 13, mounted in the Asshown in Figures 3' and 4, the upper roller 13 is resiliently maintainedin en'- gagement with the lower roller by a spring pressed bearing block13a slidably mounted in the frame 11.

A" rack 14 is mounted in a slot 15, centrally disposed at the center ofthe base 2. The rack J 14 carries a plate 16, that engages the outeredge of the lower disc 10 during the feeding operation. As is shown inFigure 2, the rack 14 may be provided with a plurality of plates 16' and16", depending upon the diameter of The plate 16 having a slopingportion 17 is secured to the rack 14 by screws 18. Referring to Figure6, the plate 16 engages the rear edge of the lower disc 10 and advancesit during the operation of the feeding mechanism A, at which time theplate 16 slides beneath the stack of discs 10 and rifiies them, therebyfreeing the lower disc 10 from the stack-preparatory to a subsequentfeeding operation.

The base 2 is provided with a chamber 19 that a pipe 20, constituting aportion of the vacuum system C, is attached by branch pipes 21. Thechamber 19 is covered by a plate 22, that is held in position by screws24. The plate 22 is provided with a plurality of openings constitutingports disposed above the chamber 19. The ports 23 permit a grippingaction of the discs 10, as they move along the base 2, therebyflattening them and holding them tightly in position to be engaged bythe rollers 13.

At one end of the chamber 19, there is disposed a suction gripper 25,constituted by a block 26, that is upwardly biased by a spring 27, in

;order that the outer face of the block 26, which is provided with aport 28, shall engage the advancing disc and draw it firmly against theplate 22, in order that a positive engagement may be made between it andthe rollers 13. As the burrs, it is important that provision be made forinsuring that the advancing edges of the discs 10 shall lie snuglyagainst the plate 22, as a faulty engagement of the discs 10 by therollers 13 might result in the deforming cf the edges of the discs avdisc of paper withinthe die 55.

, forwardly and backwardly, the plates 16 and 18 are given areciprocating motion that advances the lowest disc 10 and rifiles theremaining discs preparatory to the next advancing stroke of the plate16.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the feed rollers 8 are continuously drivenby a chain 35, connected to the lower rolleri13, provided with a gear36, meshing with a gear 37 on the upper roller. I I.

A tensioning device 38, havinga sprocket 39, is mounted on the plungermechanism B; The tension on the rollers 37 is controlled by springs 40and thumb screws 41, carried by the frame 11.

As the discs 10 are advanced to the rollers 13, they pass therethroughand are engaged by a guide 42 and supported by an adjustable table 44,the position of which is controlled by a spring 45, a set screw 46 and alug 47, carried by the plunger B. The distancebetween the table 44 andthe guide 42 may be varied in accordancewith'the depth of the discs 10.As the discs 10 are moved over the table 44 in accordance with themovement of the disc through the rollers 13, the table 44 is adjusted inaccordance with the diameter of the discs, and to insure that a disc 10is moved over the table 44 into the plunger mechanism B in synchronism10 through the rollers 13. For this purpose, the guide 42 is providedwith slots 48 and bolts 49, and the table tion of which is controlled byset screws 51. The base 2 is provided with a plurality of outwardlyprojecting fingers 52 that mesh with correspond-.

copending application. Within the barrel 54 ismounted a sleeve 55,carrying a punch 57 that cooperates with the die 55 for punching paperdiscs from paper fed by the rollers D. Within the sleeve 56, a plunger58 is mounted that terminates in a ram 59, having astripper 60 carriedby a rod 61 extending longitudinally thereof. A spring 62 normallybiases the stripper 60 in a downward position with respect to theplunger 58.

The sleeve 56, plunger 58 and rod 61 are all actuated by several rollers64 positioned .in the grooves in the cam faces 62. The construction ofthe several face earns 62 and their sequence of operation is fullydescribed in our 'copending application and the description isnotrepeated in 44 is carried by rods 50, the posi-' with the movement ofa new'disc V thepresent application, since the details thereof In theoperation of the plunger mechanism B the sleeve 56 is moved downwardlyto strike out then pressed into thebooly of a can held bya The disc is vof the plunger mechanism.

mandrel on an endless conveyor. After the paper disc has beendriven intothecan body, the ram 59 is withdrawn and the can is held by:thestriperso- *Afterthe ram.59 has been retrievedto its initial "position,the stripper .60 is withdrawn by theactionof the springi62. 1. J 1feeding mechanism D comprises rollers and adjustable rollers :66, eachof which has a cam s'urfacefor feeding a continuous strip of paper tothe plunger mechanism1-B.when it is de-j sired to punch out the discsduring the operation For. certain classes of work, it is difficultit'osecure perfect registry of the die 55 with printed matter on thezpaperbe-' ing'fed to the plunger, and under such circum-,- stances; it may bedesirable to feed the preshaped' disosato the plunger mechanism B by thefeeding mechanism A. The roller 65 is driven by a chain 66 from a pulley67, carried by a shaft 68 that drives the cam faces 62. A tensioningdevice 69'is provided for the chain 66. The link 34 is eccentricallymounted on to the roller 65, and accordingly the driving mechanismforthe plunger B actuates the feeding mechanism D and the feeding mechanismA.

As theroller 65 turns, it imparts a reciprocating motion to the link34and the rack 32 that is transmitted to the plate 16 for feeding discs'10 into therollers 13 in synchronismwith the movement of the plungermechanism B. As each successive disc passes through the rollers 13, itcrowds the preceding disc into the die 15 below the ram 59.

In the operation of the feedingmechanism, a pile of discs 10 are placedbetween the supports 7 and 9. The supply of discs 10 may be renewedcontinuously withoutinterrupting the operation of the feeding mechanism.As the plunger mechanism B is operated, the reciprocating motion istransmitted to the rack 32 and the rack 14, with a result that with thestroke of the latter, the lower disc 10 is advanced into engagement withthe feed rollers 13. r

By reason of the gripping action of the ports 23 I and the yieldablymounted gripper 25 each advancing disc 10 is smoothed and held in firmengagement vanced. By reason of the location of the suction gripper 24,the advancing edge of each disk 10 is firmly held in position to bepositively engaged by the rollers 13 upon the initial engagementtherewith, thereby eliminating any tendency for the feeding mechanism toget out of step with the plunger mechanism B, or to injure the edges ofthe discs 10 by improved engagement with the rollers 13.

When it is desired that the can ends be provided with printed orembossed legends, use is made of the modification illustrated in Figures7, 8 and 9. Much of the structure shown in these views is.

identical with that of the other figures and similar reference numeralsare employed to designate corresponding elements. In order to print oremboss the discs 10 as they are fed to the can mak- 1 ing machine, theupper feed roller 13 is provided with a raised printing or embossingportion 70. The roller 13 is reciprocable with its bearing block 137) inthe frame 11 as already described. A rubber inking roller '71 is alsojournaled in the bear- "ing block which engages the roller 13 so thatthe roller '71 contacts only with the raised portion 70 of the upperroller 13. r

Ink is supplied to the inking roller '71 from an inking fountain 72supported on brackets 73 and '1 '74. The brackets 73 and 74 rest on theupper ends with the plate 22 over which it is ad-' the rubberinkingroller 'has been rotated to its of the frame lliand are secured theretoby means of screws '75. The adjusting screws'76.. for*the bearing .block13?) carrying the rollers 13 and -.-'71

corresponding 'to the adjusting screws ili of Figures 1, 3, etc., arethreaded through the lower horizontal portion of the brackets 73. and 74which rest on the frame 11. At one end of these horizontalportions ofthe brackets, journal bearings-77 are formed fora raft 78. A pulley '79fixed to the shaft78 cooperates with a pulley 80 on the shaft" carryingthe lower roller 13 so that the shaft 78 isdriventhere from. Collars31011 the shaft 78.-maintain it in fixed relation with the bearings 77.A distributor roller 82 is mounted on the shaft 78 sofas to'bereciprocable therealong. that it rotates with the shaft. A co1lar83onthe shaft affords a slidable bearing for one end of the roller and aspring 84 urges the roller'toward'the left as shownin Figure 8. Theleft-hand end of the roller has acam surface 85 formed thereon and a'camroller 66 is journaled in a holder 87 whichsis screwed toa projectinglug 87a'on the bracket 73. As the shaft '78'rotates, engagement of theroller 86 with the cam surface 85 causes the longitudinalreciprocationof the roller 82 on the'shaft. A cam 83 is secured to the-shaft '78 andserves toactuatea follower 89 to operate. a pairof levers 99 which arefixed to pivot shaft 91. The follower 89 is integral with one ofthelevers 90. A pickup roller 92 is rotatable on center points 93 in thelevers 99. A fountain roll 93' is journaled for"rotation inthe inkingfountain 72 and is provided with a ratchet wheel 94 on its shaft. Aspring pressed pawl 95 on one of the levers serves to turn the fountainroll 93' intermittently as the levers 90 are oscillated by theengagement of the high point of the cam 88 with the follower 89. 1

In order to transfer the ink from the distributor roll 82 to the inkingroll 71, we provide a rubber roller 96. The roller 96 has a shaft whichis slidably supported in slots 97 in the brackets 73 and 74 by means ofleaf springs98. A doctor roller 99 floats on the rollers 71 and 96. Theshaft of the roller 99 is journaled in slots 100 in the brackets 73 and74.

Figures '7 and 8 show the printing and inking mechanism when there is nodisc between the feed rollers 13. When the feeding device advances adisc to the rollers 13, the upper roller 13 is lifted because of thethickness of the disc, as well as the guide finger 42. The upwardmovement of the upper roller 13 causes the rubber inking roller. 71 tobe raised by a corresponding amount. The upper roller 13 and '71 arerigidly spaced in their reciprocable bearing block 13b, as previouslydescribed, to prevent the application of ink frorn'the inking roller 71to the feed roller 13, except on the raised portion of the latter. Bythe time the inked printing portion of the roller 13 10 being fed willhave advanced into position for receiving the impression.

The upward movement of therubber inking roller 71 shifts the doctorroller 99 slightly and the leaf springs 98 support the rubber roller 96to maintain the latter in engagement with both the doctor roller 99and'the distributor roller 82. The latter is directly driven through itsshaft 73, as already described, and serves to cause the intermittentoperation of the fountain rolls 93' and the pickup roller 92 whichtransfers ink from the fountain to the distributor roller printingposition, the disc The roller is somounted the relative positions of I'Any desiredlegend may thus be applied to the disc forming the can ends.For example," the capacity of the can may be imprinted upon the endthereof. The raised portion of the upper roller. 14 may be in the formof a removable insert so as'to permitthe printed legend to be altered ifdesired. u

. .We have provided a can machine in which there is a feeding mechanismfor printing and supplying paper discs, that is characterized by the useof a vacuum system for insuring that each disc shall be brought intopositive engagement with the feeder rolls, thereby eliminating anyunnecessary loss of time in the feeding operation due to failure of thefeeding rolls to immediately engage the advancing discs. At the sametime, a positive feed insures perfect synchronism between the operationof the feeder rolls and the plunger to which the discs are fed.Provision is made for using the feeding mechanism for discs of diiferentdiameters by providing plates of different lengths and radii ofcurvature corresponding to the curvature of discs of diiferent diameter,and an adjustable table is interposed between the feed rolls and theplunger.

Another'important feature of our invention is the lug that rifiles thestack of discs during each feeding operation, thereby feeding the lowerdisc preparatory to disengagement with the feeding plate. Thepositioning of the gripper in close proximity to the feed rolls alsoassists in insuring positive feed action.

The provision of a vacuum system in connection with feed mechanismremoves any dirt or lint that may be freed from the discs and'theaccumulation of which might impair the feeding operation.

. While we have described a can machine for applying paper discs topaper cans, it is to be understood that the machine is adapted for usesin connection with materials other than paper and with other types offeeding mechanisms, and that the use of the can machine for suchpurpinion for actuating said meansya reciprocable.

rack and a pinioncooperatingtherewith for actuating said first-mentionedpinion, and a crank arm driven by said cam shaftfor actuating thelast-mentioned rack. y

2. In a can-making machine, a reciprocable plunger, a cam shaft having acam thereon for reciprocating said plunger, a drive for "the cam shaft,means for feeding discs below the plunger comprising a reciprocableslide, a rack bar on 'the slide, a shaft adjacent the slide having apinion cooperating with said rack, a second pinion; on said shaft, areciprocable rack for actuating the second pinion, a crank arm driven bysaid cam shaft for reciprocating the last-mentioned rack, rolls forforwarding discs advanced-by saiddisc feeding means, and means drivenfrom said cam shaft for driving said rolls. c

3. In a can-making machine, a plunger for engaging can ends, a cam shafthavinga cam thereon for engaging said plunger, a drive for the camshaft, strip and disc-feeding meansassociated with said plunger, thestrip feeding means comprising opposed rolls having a portion of theirperipheries recessed for intermittently engaging and forwarding a strip,and means for driving said rolls from said cam shaft, said disc-feedingmeans comprising a reciprocable slide for actuating a disc, feed rollsforadvancing a disc actuated by said slide, said'slide and rolls bothbeing drivenfrom said cam shaft.

GEORGE 0. FROSTAD. JAMES E. ANNEN,

